A Network of Community Based Tourism Projects was ceremonially launched at Panama in the East Coast, Sri Lanka, on the 30th June, 2016 (Thursday) These Projects are being supported by ILO and Australian Aid. Under these projects a Central Tourism Office of Panama Community Based Tourism Association (CBTA) and the Information Centre was opened at Panama. A Food Products Processing Centre, Home Stay Accommodation facilities, Centre for lagoon safari tours at Pananma and Urani, a Souvenir Shop at the Kumana National Park Office premises declared opened on the 30th June.
Launching of Panama Community Based Tourism Association web site and the Urani Joint Tourism Initiative Web site also launched at the ceremony and Tourism related equipment such as surfing boards, bicycles, bullock carts, pontoon canoes also distributed to the selected associations took place at the ceremony.

Indrani Thudawe, ILO

The launch was hosted and organized by Priyantha Pushpakumara, President, Panama Community Based Tourism Association

Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) has been contracted by Australian Aid and ILO to develop and implement Promotional and Marketing Plans for the Community Based Tourism Projects funded and implemented under the Local Economic Development through Tourism Project (LED) of the ILO. SLEF is also entrusted in conducting awareness and training programmes for the community to handle tourism businesses of the above projects.

Local Economic Development (LED) through Tourism is a project implemented in Ampara and Batticaloa Districts by the International Labour Organization (ILO), funded by the Australian Government. The predominant objectives of the project are to support the poor and vulnerable communities of the districts into the tourism value chain by promoting tourism based livelihood activities, support the government institutions and the private sector stakeholders for developing and promoting the tourism sector and to develop and promote innovative tourism based products and services.

These Projects are located in Chenkaldy-Batticola (A permanent Community Based Camping Site), which will be operated by Rural Development Society-RDS, Sittandy, Kanagarkiramam Organic Agriculture Society (KOAS), Urani, Pottuvil and, Panampattu Sustainable Community Based Tourism

The Community Based Tourism Projects will offer the following tourism programmes for the eco, adventure and nature loving tourists.